Rail anchor



C. M. KNAPP RAIL ANCHOR Filed March 1', 1928 Jan. 15, 1929.

Patented Jan. 15, 1929 PATE NT OFFICE.

CLARENCE M. KNAPP, OF CICERO, INDI ANA.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed March 1, 1928. Serial No. 258,410.

The present invention relates to improvements in rail anchors or anti-creepers, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be clamped upon the base flange of a rail and so engage one of the crosstics or sleepers as to effectively prevent the rails from creeping or moving longitudinally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient rail anchor of one piece construction, adapted to be applied to the base flange of a rail as by imparting a driving blow to one end of the device, and which anchor when applied will so grip the base flange as to prevent possibility of the anchor being shifted along the rail thru vibration of traffic moving along the rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient rail anchor having a con tractable spring loop so formed at one end thereof as to act as an abutment for one end of the main body portion of the anchor whereby the anchor is held against movement awayfroni the cross tie with which the anchor engages.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient rail anchor which is of substantially flat construction and thus allowing for ready application of the anchor beneath the base flange of a rail without removal of any ofthe ballast from beneath the rails.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide a substantially fiat resilient rail anchor including an elongated main body portion for extending transversely beneath the rail and having an integral spring loop so formed atone end thereof, as to have a portion of the loop so engage beneath the base flange as to prevent tilting of the anchor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawin forming a part of this specificaiton and in which drawing:

Figure 1 a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a rail and cross tie therefor and showing the improved rail anchor in position.

Figure 2 is a view illustrating the manner in which the anchor is applied to the base flange of the rail.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the 1111- proved anchor and showing the manner in which the same engages at one edge, a side face of the cross tie V I A Figure 4 is a top plan view of the rail anchor and showing the position of the spring loop when the anchor applied to the rail. i igurefi a fragmentary topplan view at one end of the anchor and showing the position of the spring loop prior to application of the anchor to a rail.

Referring to the drawingin detail. and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates a railroad rail of "usual construction adapted to rest upon the cross tie or. sleeper B, and C the improved anchor adapted for clamping engagement beneath the base flange of the rail and engageable with one edge of the cross tie it for preventing longitudinal movement of the rail transversely of the tie B. The rail A embodies the usual liase flange (3 adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the tie or sleeper B and be secured thereto as by the spikes Land which spikes do not eflectively serve for preventing longitudinal creeping ot the rails in the direction of travel on the rails. I

Referring now to the improved anchorC and which is preferably formed from a bar of spring steel, the same embodies an elongated main body portion 8 being formed at one end to provide a springclalnping loop 9 disposed wholly to the rear side or edge 10 of the main body portion. It will be noted that the upper face of the spring clamping loop 9 disposed in a like plane as the upper face of the main body portion 8 and that the axis of the loop is disposed at a rightangle to the longitudinal axis of the rail A; \Vhile the anchor has been shown constructed from a bar of spring steel of rectangular shape in cross section it will be understood that the anchor may be constructed of round or square stock it so desired. Formed at the opposite end of the elongated bodyportion 8 from that end at which the loop 9 is formed, is an upstanding inwardly opening hook 11 which is adapted to engage one side edge of the base flange 6. Provided at the free end of the spring clamping loop 9 is an upturned locking book 12 which opens toward the upturned hook 11 and is adapted to engage the opposite longitudinal edge of the base flange nee-ones when the anchor is applied to the rail. Formed intermediate the ends of the straight body portion 8 is a downwardly projecting stop portion 14 adapted to provide a more positive abutment means for the anchor with one side face of the tie B,

The rail anchor so constructed that when the spring loop 9 is in its normal expanded position as in Figure that the ha-ward edge of the locking hook 12 is spaced slightly from the rear edge 10 of the main body portion 8, and with the distance la *een the hooks ii and 12 less than the width of the base flange ti as illustrated in Figure In applying the anchor to the rail, the straight body portion 8 is placed transversely beneath the base flange so that the hook 12 engages one edge of the base flange as shown in Figure 2, and in which figure it will also be observed that a portion of the loop or coil 9 projects beneath the base A driving blow is then imparted to the outer end of the loop which causes the loop to be contracted and allows the hool; 11 to spring up wardly into place upon one edge of the base flange as in Figure 4. This driving blow iinparted to the spring loop 9 causes the forward edge of the locking hook 12 to be Inoyed into firm engagen'ient wit the rear edge 10 of the bodyportion 8 and also has a tendency to shift the body portion longitudinally of the rail into firm engagement with one face of the tie B. Since the spring coil is now contracted it will be seen that thru action of t l e loop to expand to its normal position both of the hooks 11 and 12 are drawn into firm en gageinent with opposite sides of the base flange in a manner whereby the anchor is held against movement longitudinally of the rail. The jaw 12 new acts as an abutment against which the body portion 8 will act under pressure of the rail to creep or move transversely of the tie B. vAs will be observed, the bill portions 16 of the books 11 and 12 extend inwardly for a short distance ore r the upper face of the base flan adjacent eachlongitudinal edge thereof and thus act to retain the anchor in surface contact with the under side of the base flange.

iVhen the anchor is clamped in position beneath the rail, the forward edge of the straight body portion 8 abuts with the side face 18 of the tie B and by providing the downwardly projecting stop portion ll, provision is made whereby the anchor will have a positive bearing against a tie having a rounded upper edge. This depending project-ion 14 will also aid in preventing the anchorfrom tilting in one direction. Further, by so having a portion of the spring loop 9 extend in surface contact beneath a portion of" the base flange 6, it will be seen that the loop also acts to prevent tilting of the anchor.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel type of one piece rail anchor has been provided which may be ily applied to the rail for preventing creeping thereof and one wherein the spring clamping loop for exerting the desired gripping action upon the rail base is disposed with its major plane in parallel relation to the flat bottom face of the "ail for providing a substantially flat rail anchor which may be easily applied to the rail without the removal of any ballast from beneath the rail. it will also be apparent that when the spring loop contracted as when the anchor is applied to the raih that the free end of the loop acts as an abutment for the straight body portion of the anchor for retaining the body portion in proper engagement with one face of the tie.

Changes 1n detail may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a body portion having means at one end for engagement with one edge of a rail and a flat contractable loop formed at the opposite end of the body portion and coiled to one side thereof with its free end adapted to yieldably engage the opposite edge of the rail base and yieldably bear against one side edge of the body portion.

2. A one piece resilient rail anchor co1n p sing an elongated body portion having an upturned inwardly opening hook formed at one end thereof for engagement over one edge of the rail base and a cont 'actable clamping loop formed at the opposite end of thebody portion wholly to one side thereof with the axis of the loop extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the rail and having an upturned locking hook formed at its free end for engaging over the opposite edge of the rail at the rear edge of the body portion of the anchor.

3. it one piece resilient rail anchor comprising an. elon ated straightbody portion hava hook formed at one end for engagement over one edge of a rail. base, and a flat contractable clamping coil formed at the oppoi its end of the bodyportion for horizontal positioning adjacent one edge of the rail base with its major plane disposed in parallel relation to the bottom face of the rail. and having ahoolr formed at its free end for engaging over the opposite edge of the rail base.

4i. A resilient one piece rail anchor comprising an elongated body portion for extending transversely beneath a rail and having means at one end for engagement with one edge of the rail base, and a contractable bearing loop formed at the opposite end of the body portion and having a locking hook formed at its free end for engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base, said locking book being normally spaced from the body portion and adapted to he moved into engagement with one edge of lli) the body portion upon application of the anchor to a rall base.

A one piece resilient ra1l anchor comprising an elongated body portion having an arouate depending projection provided intermediate its ends for hearing against one side face of a supporting tie and having means at one end for engagement over one edge of a rail base, and a contractable clamping loop formed at the opposite end of the body portion and coiled laterally from one side thereof With the inner portion of the loop adapted to extend in surface contact beneath the bottom face of the rail at the rear side of the anchor body portion and having means provided at the terminal of the loo for yieldably engaging over the opposite ec ge of the rail base.

3. A resilient one piece rail anchor comprising anelongated body portion having means at one end for engagement over one edge of the rail base, and a contractable clamping loop formed at the opposite end of the body portion having a locking hook formed at its free end for engaging over the opposite edge of the rail base and engaging one edge of the body portion in amanner whereby the body portion is normally urged into engagement with one side face of the supporting tie for the rail.

CLARENCE M. KNAPP. 

